How's it coming? You got more balls than me. Mine's a straight swap. Yours is major surgery. Are you gonna be running rocket lights or anything like that?
I had the olds taillights on there, I bought a frenching kit from socal . They included some little guys that fit perfect, so unfortunately that's it for the olds taillights!!! They did chop that bad to the bone Chevy on the "legends" episode. The last episode was a 54 ford wagon. Fixed that bubble top, and did the best custom thing ever on a 52-54 ford, little scoops where the rear fender bubbles out. Such a small detail, but always looks pretty cool! Just my opinion! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Do you remember Posies 56 Ford Ranch wagon? They didn't chop it at all, just used 58 Edsel roof sheetmetal to lose the bubble. It looked miles lower. Fixed the whole car, IMHO.
I think the reason for the 'unanimous' nays on chopping '52-'54 Fords is the method too often used. (the sectioning-in of metal aft of the 'B' pillars, and in the case of the friend's '53 pictured, another 4" added behind the A pillars) The tudors looked 'squashed' with this method, and the coupes looked like short-turreted tanks. Your operation is complimentary to the top length and shape, and I'm sure you're on the right track with the rear window (backlight) solution. A chopped '54 Tudor is a difficult subject.
You gotta post another side profile of how it looks now! The one you got up is before we chopped another inch out of that roof! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The last three pics are the present 5" chop. I gotta post pics of after the tops of the doors are on! I think that's whats making it look higher than it is! Haha Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
So here's the new side profile. Sorry if it blends into the garage door a little bit. Started putting body filler on the car the last couple days. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Based on the size of the windshield, didn't really feel wipers were worth having anymore! Haha Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
As you can see in the above pic, I cut the old drip rail off completely. Ran some some roundstock where the old drip rail would have sat. Instead of running it above the windshield, I brought it down the a pillars. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I mentioned it earlier but here's a pic of the frenched in taillights. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Pretty happy with the final look of the roofline. Should flow pretty nice. At least I hope! Haha Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I'd say there's a good solid 3" from steering wheel to roof to see out of! Haha. Next project, french in the headlights! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Not a big fan of chopped 54's but ill say this looks better than most of them out there. I have a 54 as well almost chopped it and decided to do everything but a chop. Just my 2 cents Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Thanks Brian. I know what your saying now that all the body mods are done. I would of done things differently myself. I would of bought a hardtop instead haha. 54s make bitchin kustoms though Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
A close up pic of how the drip rail is gonna look. I had a little rust by the front windshield. And the original drip rail had a rust hole, that someone filled with body filler long ago. Wasn't sure what to do with it, so I cut it all off and made a new one. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
hey man could i get some reference measurements from you next time your working on it? imma start my rechop here shortly and the dummies that chopped this thing first didnt brace anything. so im trying to find another one to measure!
"So after reading every thread on here that has to do with 52-54 ford chops, all saying the same thing, don't do it" Now you know why.
Anyway I can help!!! I'll be back down at the garage hopefully this week! Hope I can be a help! I haven't posted any progress pics in a bit cause I'm just smoothing out some body filler. That's as boring as it gets!!! Haha Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
thats the post i made on my thread for it! the doors still line up perfect so judging by that imma guess its pretty good front to back,the front pillars and rear roof were welded but nothing ever happened with the b pillars from p/o but i know since it sat unbraced that the side to side is off! thanks again!
The Jalopy Journal
